Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1887-01-22


Eiakim fe.t his heart sink within him
as he faced hcrzstern, unconpromi-ing
gaz
"Thcyre JEST few" he began.
"a few" shriliy echoed his wife.
"Thc waggin is hcaped full! Aud w
a-throwin' Of 'cm away every day.
That ie-t mans calculatin't'
'Je,t few" said Eiiakiln, hitchinc
desperately on the first section OF MS
speech, 'that I've brung down here TO
sell for Mrs Hall, There amt much
market up that-a-way, you know,
Loisy.
And" he added to himself, ''good-
ness knows how glad I'd be to sell 'cm
If | had the chancc amt YIN, no
how"
Miss Ellis gave prodigious sniff
Don't you fetch that there truck
inside Of the door-yard, Liakimm said
she. jest dump 'cm on the roadside
and let the ncighbors' hogs eat 'em up
as quick as they canm
But Mr.. Ellis took advantage of TIM
pcddler coming along on the other side
! Of the street, and engaging his help
meets a ttcntion, to smueglc in the load
Of pump bkins,
81 We 9nt waste 'em anyway" said he.
eff any body's hogs is to eat 'em, it may
as we'll be mine"
That afternoon, when he came in to
supper, a thing happened which had
never before befalen him in all his mar
| ricd life
He found the ca-kcttlc cold, the Gra-
ham gems unbakcd, the table unspread
and his wife crying piteously.
''Eh." said Eliakim, blankly. "What
mall matter now2 You
amt sick, be you, Loisy?'
eyes, l be-" sobbed Mrs. Ellis.
"IIcartsick, Liakim. Oh, what heo
done2 I've sold them old gray pants
o'yourn to the tin peddler, and never re
membercd how I'd put that there hundred
dollar coupon bond you gave me to keep,
in the pocket. because | calculated no
burglars would take pair Dragged old
panst. Oh, dear. oh, dear,"
For one minute Elakim Ellis stood
silent A hundred dollars was q
hundred dollars to this hard working
man, who could only save and scrape by
Titles
But he looked at Louisas pale, woe
bcgone face, and his great, tender heart
rose up within him like the pillows OF
the sea.
Don't fret, Loisy, my gal, he said
cheerfully. 1T was only an accident
'Tain't wuth frcttin' about" And ht
bent down and kissed her forehcad--a rart
occurrence in their undemonstrativt
household. ''We'll 90 to work and make
it up as fast as possible, my dear"
ooh, 'Liakim!" sobbca the good wife
II don't deserve you should be so gooC
to me- I'm cross, sco,dn' crcctur
and
Tut. tut, tut" goodhumoredly inter
rupped her husband. Guess | ain
goin' to hcv my wife abused this Away.
'And I'm sorry spoke so short abou
them pumpkins" added Louisa, dole
fully.
- Mr.. Ellis whistlcd under his breath
He was almost disposed now, to rcgre
that he had paid out that dollar for TIL
Widow Hepsys pumpkins.
However, it's done" he said TO him
self, land it can't be undoac Loisy',
best be left in the dark, guess, abou
it."
He was alertly kindline the fire, while
Mrs. Ellis moved sadly about, making pre-
parations for the evening meal, whcI
there was a lively tattoo, played by
very energetic pair of knuckles on tn
door outside.
Come in !" shouted he.
And who should make his appearanc
but the tin-peddler himself.
Hello, SQUIRE said he. "GucS
there's been mistake somewhere
amt buyin' up Government coupe
bonds I'm IN the tin trade. foun
this ere in your old pockets. So / al
lowed it was best to bring it back righ
, away"
He held out the folded slip of parcf